Franchises hiking $$ in 2010

TinyDancer109

TinyDancer109

Well-Known Member
So i just learned that my franchise studio will again be upping the cost.... by $6/lesson!!!! :shock: which is completely ridiculous to me.

my question is if anyone else in a franchise studio is experiencing cost increases this yr?

Also, i am wondering how much of this is franchise decision and how much is individual manager's decision, if anyone knows.

Thanks :)
 
TinyDancer109 said:
So i just learned that my franchise studio will again be upping the cost.... by $6/lesson!!!! :shock: which is completely ridiculous to me.

my question is if anyone else in a franchise studio is experiencing cost increases this yr?

Also, i am wondering how much of this is franchise decision and how much is individual manager's decision, if anyone knows.

Thanks :)
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Haven't been at a franchise studio for awhile now so I can't say if this is universal, but I can tell you that franchisees can and do set their own prices. My franchisee experimented with a number of pricing structures without needing to go through any sort of clearance process, and I know that the fees we charged differed a great deal from other studios in the same chain, most of whom differed from one another. The only exception to this was that reimbursement for lessons taught to a student registered at another studio within the franchise was established by the parent organization.

I will say, however, that I've seen a lot of independent studios raising their fees in the past three months. It seems to be by about three to five percent at most studios.
 
TD109, I think you are with FADS. I signed a new FADS contract a month ago at the same rates as previously.
The independent studio I also take lessons from has started charging for practice parties which up until now were free for registered students.
 
NiN, yes, I am. I signed a package at the same rates as previously a month ago as well. But now i hear the prices will be going up. :(

Cost of living hasnt gone up since we are in a recession so i dont understand the premise behind this.
 
I don't know about your FADS studio, but I have certainly noticed a decrease in the number of students at mine. Your studio may be trying to make up for the loss in enrollment due to the economy, or they may have had a rent hike.
 
Yes, Tiny
The FADS studio we were with increased the prices at the first of the year. It is true that most studios have increased prices within the 5-10 dollar range which normally would be just fine. But for me that last increase put me over the threshold of what I considered reasonable considering the high lesson cost to begin with.

It comes down to a personal decision. Each one of us has to look at all the factors, the dance community the studio offers, quality of lessons,ect and either say yes this is still what I want and worth the increase or no I cannot get comfortable with this... After 5 yeas with FADS for us it came up a no and we moved to an independent studio.

After we made our decision the owners did come up with some price concessions for us so even at a franchise, prices are not necessarly fixed in stone.... I had trouble with the decision because I let my emotions factor in. In the end after a lot of we will/we wont we still left the chain and once again, all is good.

LOL, this is a hard one.
 
Larinda McRaven said:
And what I offered each student was to purchase one more package, of however many they wanted, at the old price. And then there after all packages they buy will be up $5 a lesson. If they only buy one at the old price fine... if they bought 40 at the old price that was fine, I am willing to lose the difference in the mean time.
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Yes, my studio manager made the same offer.

JANATHOME said:
But for me that last increase put me over the threshold of what I considered reasonable considering the high lesson cost to begin with.

It comes down to a personal decision. Each one of us has to look at all the factors, the dance community the studio offers, quality of lessons,ect and either say yes this is still what I want and worth the increase or no I cannot get comfortable with this... After 5 yeas with FADS for us it came up a no and we moved to an independent studio.
Click to expand...

Yes, it's absolutely heart-breaking because i feel a lot of loyalty to my pros for all they have done for my dancing... unfortunately i just don't know if i will be able to afford this much longer... not sure what i will do.

My manager has actually has not told ME directly this information yet, but he has told other students. And i fear that when he does i may just start to cry lolol
 
I am dancing at an independent studio, and they are raising their private lesson rates, too. If this were an isolated thing, and they were charging more than any other studios in the area, I'd take issue, but the new rates are pretty much in line (if not slightly cheaper) than some other local studios. I just don't enjoy watching my dancing friends have to cut back or stop taking lessons as they get priced out of the hobby. I know my pro is worth the $, but it still smarts.
 
When one of the studios I go to upped their prices I started making my own tea at work instead of going to the closest Starbucks (I know, I am the only person in the universe who gets tea at Starbucks). I like dancing more than overpriced beverages! Hopefully also helps me lose the holiday weight I put on if I don't buy the little cakes that go with the tea :)
 
I just heard from a friend who takes lessons at a different NYC studio than I that her location increased fees in the new year.
 
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